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| Britons feel 'socially immobile' | Britons feel 'socially immobile' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Nearly three out of four Britons feel either worse or no better off than their parents, a survey suggests. | Nearly three out of four Britons feel either worse or no better off than their parents, a survey suggests. |
| The poll for education charity the Sutton Trust found only one in 10 said they had moved from the bottom to the top income bracket in a generation. | The poll for education charity the Sutton Trust found only one in 10 said they had moved from the bottom to the top income bracket in a generation. |
| Seven out of 10 of the 2,000 people polled felt they were either downwardly mobile or static since childhood. | Seven out of 10 of the 2,000 people polled felt they were either downwardly mobile or static since childhood. |
| The survey also showed 69% of people thought social background played too big a role in children's life chances. | The survey also showed 69% of people thought social background played too big a role in children's life chances. |
| Three quarters of the people asked said they believed that the gap between rich and poor was too big. | Three quarters of the people asked said they believed that the gap between rich and poor was too big. |
| About half thought the amount of social mobility in the UK was "about right". | About half thought the amount of social mobility in the UK was "about right". |
| A similar number of those surveyed thought the government should have a role in reducing inequality. | A similar number of those surveyed thought the government should have a role in reducing inequality. |
| Income link | Income link |
| The charity's director of research, Dr Lee Elliot Major, said: "Opportunities in this country remain heavily determined by parental background. | The charity's director of research, Dr Lee Elliot Major, said: "Opportunities in this country remain heavily determined by parental background. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| "A wide range of research places Britain at or near the bottom of the league table of mobility, particularly in terms of the link between children's educational achievement and parental income. | "A wide range of research places Britain at or near the bottom of the league table of mobility, particularly in terms of the link between children's educational achievement and parental income. |
| "The public appear to recognise some of the inequalities in our society, but on the face of it half do not think that Britain is particularly socially immobile." | "The public appear to recognise some of the inequalities in our society, but on the face of it half do not think that Britain is particularly socially immobile." |
| The Department for Children, Schools and Families said progress had been made tackling poverty. | The Department for Children, Schools and Families said progress had been made tackling poverty. |
| Education focus | Education focus |
| A spokeswoman said: "As the prime minister said this week, the government's vision is to create a Britain where everyone, no matter what their background, can make the most of their potential. | A spokeswoman said: "As the prime minister said this week, the government's vision is to create a Britain where everyone, no matter what their background, can make the most of their potential. |
| "We know that deprivation and poverty in the long term can only be tackled by changing the aspirations of young people and their parents. | "We know that deprivation and poverty in the long term can only be tackled by changing the aspirations of young people and their parents. |
| "We are accelerating this change by creating a world-class education system." | "We are accelerating this change by creating a world-class education system." |
| Gordon Brown said improving social mobility in the UK was a "national crusade" but conceded Labour had not yet made enough progress. | Gordon Brown said improving social mobility in the UK was a "national crusade" but conceded Labour had not yet made enough progress. |
| The prime minister also announced a £200 grant for deprived families in England who joined schemes to improve children's development. | The prime minister also announced a £200 grant for deprived families in England who joined schemes to improve children's development. |